What if November and December became two of your best months for fitness instead of two months of trying not to lose everything you’ve worked for?
Every year around this time, we get a pretty awesome opportunity.
An opportunity to lock in our workout routines, build some serious consistency, and create habits that are so solid that even the holiday chaos can’t shake them.
Because you know what’s coming.
Holiday parties. Family gatherings. Travel. Big meals. More desserts than anyone needs. And schedules that somehow manage to fill every available minute.
Before you know it, you’re telling yourself, “I’ll get back into my routine after the holidays.”
Sound familiar?
Well, after more than 25 years of coaching people of all ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds, I’ve learned something interesting.
The holidays don’t have to be the time when your fitness falls apart. They can actually be a time when you make some of your best progress.
Let me explain.
The Secret Is Getting Your Routine Locked In BEFORE the Holidays
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is waiting until life calms down to start working out consistently.
Here’s the problem.
Life doesn’t calm down.
There’s always another deadline, vacation, family obligation, stressful week, or something else competing for your time.
And the holidays? They’re basically all of those things thrown into a blender. 😂
That’s why October and November are such valuable months.
You have an opportunity to establish a routine BEFORE things get crazy.
When your workouts become something you just do, rather than something you have to constantly convince yourself to do, everything gets easier.
Think about brushing your teeth.
You probably don’t wake up every morning and debate whether you have the motivation to brush your teeth.
You just do it.
That’s the relationship I want you to develop with your workouts.
Not every workout needs to be amazing. Not every workout needs to leave you lying on the floor wondering what just happened.
You just need to keep showing up.
And when the holidays arrive, that consistency becomes your superpower.
Your Workouts Are Your Holiday Stress-Management Tool
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention during the holidays.
Stress.
Sure, we talk about eating too much, gaining weight, and missing workouts.
But what about everything else?
Travel schedules, family dynamics, shopping, financial pressure, and trying to fit 37 hours of activities into a 24-hour day.
That stuff adds up!
And one of the best tools we have for managing stress is regular exercise.
When you’re working out consistently, you’re giving yourself an outlet for that stress.
You’re moving your body, improving your mood, and doing something positive for yourself.
And there’s something incredibly powerful about maintaining control over one part of your day when everything else feels chaotic.
Your workout might be the one thing that makes the rest of your day feel manageable.
Of course, recovery matters too. If you’re exhausted and running on four hours of sleep, smashing yourself with a brutal workout probably isn’t the answer.
But getting in some movement?
That can be exactly what you need.
Here’s Something Interesting: The Holidays Can Be GREAT for Muscle Gains
This is one of my favorite observations from more than two decades of coaching.
I’ve seen some people make incredible fitness and muscle gains during November and December.
Yep. The holidays.
The same months when everyone assumes they’re going to get out of shape.
Why?
I think part of it comes down to something pretty simple.
More consistent training + enough calories to support recovery = a great opportunity for progress.
During much of the year, people are trying to eat less.
They’re cutting calories, avoiding carbs, and trying to get leaner.
But during the holidays, many people naturally eat more.
And while consistently overeating isn’t going to magically build muscle, having enough energy available can help support hard training, recovery, and muscle growth.
Especially if you’ve been underfueling your workouts.
I’ve seen people who were struggling to make progress suddenly start getting stronger when they combined consistent training with better fueling.
Now, I’m definitely not suggesting that you should eat six pieces of pumpkin pie in the name of muscle growth. 😂
But I am suggesting that the holidays don’t automatically have to be a setback.
With the right approach, they can actually be an opportunity.
The Biggest Mistake? Thinking Every Workout Has to Be Perfect
Here’s where I see people get into trouble.
They have a workout scheduled.
Then something happens.
Maybe family comes into town. Maybe work runs late. Maybe they stayed up too late at a holiday party.
Suddenly, the hour they planned for their workout disappears.
And instead of doing something shorter, they skip the workout entirely.
Then they skip another.
And another.
Before they know it, it’s January.
This is exactly why we built The Get Better Project around multiple workout levels.
We have six levels of workouts because life isn’t the same every day.
Some days you’re feeling amazing, have plenty of time, and are ready to crush a challenging workout.
Other days you’ve got 15 minutes, minimal equipment, and approximately zero motivation.
Both days are opportunities to get better.
Maybe today is a Level 5 workout where you’re pushing hard and challenging yourself.
Maybe tomorrow is a Level 1 workout in your living room before heading out to a family gathering.
Both count.
And maintaining that consistency is what makes the difference over time.
The goal isn’t to have a perfect workout schedule. The goal is to build a routine that survives imperfect days.
Your Holiday Fitness Game Plan
So, how do you actually make this happen?
Here’s what I’d recommend.
1. Establish Your Workout Schedule Now
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving.
Pick the days and times that you’re going to work out and start treating them like appointments.
Ideally, you’re building toward 3–5 workouts per week, depending on your goals, experience, and recovery.
The more consistently you follow that schedule now, the easier it’ll be to maintain when life gets busy.
2. Have a Backup Plan
This one is HUGE.
If your normal workout takes an hour, what happens when you only have 20 minutes?
Do you skip it?
Or do you have a shorter option ready?
This is one of the reasons I love our multiple workout levels in the GBP.
You don’t have to figure out what to do when your schedule falls apart.
You just choose the level that fits your day and get it done.
3. Don’t Try to Out-Exercise Your Holiday Eating
This is an important one.
Exercise is fantastic for your health, fitness, and energy expenditure.
But trying to burn off every extra holiday calorie with exercise is a losing strategy.
Enjoy the foods you love.
Keep prioritizing protein, fruits, vegetables, and the other foods that make you feel great.
And remember that one big meal isn’t going to destroy your progress.
Just like one workout isn’t going to magically get you fit.
It’s what you do consistently that matters.
4. Use the Extra Fuel to Your Advantage
If you’re eating a little more than usual, this might be a great time to focus on getting stronger.
Train hard when you’re recovered and ready.
Prioritize progressive overload.
Get enough protein.
And give your body the recovery it needs to adapt.
You might be surprised by how well you perform when you’re consistently fueling your workouts.
5. Remember That Something Is Almost Always Better Than Nothing
This might be the most important lesson of all.
If you can’t do your normal workout, do something.
Go for a walk.
Do 15 minutes of bodyweight exercises.
Ride your bike.
Get in a quick strength session.
The goal is to maintain the habit.
Because once that habit is solid, you’re setting yourself up for success long after the holidays are over.
What If You Finished the Holidays Fitter Than You Started?
Imagine heading into January without feeling like you need to start over.
No guilt.
No desperate New Year’s resolution.
No trying to undo two months of inactivity.
Instead, you’re already training consistently.
You’re stronger.
You’re feeling good.
And you’ve built a routine that works even when life gets crazy.
That’s what I want for you.
And it’s exactly what we help people do inside The Get Better Project.
Want Some Help Getting Your Routine Locked In?
If you’ve been struggling to find a workout routine that actually fits your life, we’d love to help.
At The Get Better Project, we focus on building fitness that works in the real world.
Not just when everything is going perfectly.
Our programming includes:
- Six workout levels so you can adjust your training to your fitness, energy, equipment, and available time.
- Strength training, conditioning, and mobility to help you become a well-rounded, capable athlete.
- Coaching and accountability to help you stay consistent and keep making progress.
- A supportive community of people working toward getting a little better every day.
And you don’t need to be an experienced athlete to get started.
We’ve designed the program to meet you where you are and help you improve from there.
You can try The Get Better Project FREE for two weeks.
No need to wait until January.
In fact, I’d argue that right now is one of the best times of the year to get started.
Let’s make this the year that the holidays help your fitness instead of getting in the way.
Cheers!
Joe
The Get Better Project
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